Cal football coach Jeff Tedford fired

Cal football coach Jeff Tedford has been fired following a disappointing 3-9 season.

The decision was to be announced this morning by Cal Althetic Director Sandy Barbour, who has met repeatedly with Tedford in recent days.

But Berkeley officials say it was the team’s off-field academic performance as much as its poor play that ultimately cost the coach his job.

“Despite Coach Tedford’s exceptional skills and abilities, it became clear to the athletic director that reversing worrisome trends on and off the field required a change in the program’s leadership,’’ said a campus source.

Of particular concern, according to the source, is the team’s recent academic performance. Berkeley’s football graduation rate is 48 percent, lowest in the Pac-12. By comparison, 90 percent of Stanford’s football players graduate.

“At UC Berkeley, where the campus commitment to the idea that the term “student athletes” can’t be an oxymoron, those rates just can’t be tolerated,’’ the source said.

The university is also under pressure to fill its new stadium after spending nearly $350 million on renovations. While officials acknowledge that was also a factor in booting Tedford, they say it was not an immediate concern since say they only have to make interest payments on the building in the first few years.

Tedford is due up to three years of his annual $2.3 million salary, but officials say he’s only due the entire amount if he doesn’t find another job — something they say is highly unlikely. If he does land a job elsewhere, he would be paid up to one year’s salary.

Our source said the search for a new coach is already starting. “The intention is to move as quickly as possible,’’ he said.